Knife sharpener



C. M. FRANKS KNIFE SHARPENER May 1, 1956 Filed Nov. 30, 1953 IVENTOR. a rm/nicfi United States Patent KNIFE SHARPENER Charles M. Franks, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Application November 30, 1953, Serial No. 394,931

1 Claim. (Cl. 51-214) This invention relates to a knife sharpener.

An object of this invention is to provide a knife sharpener embodying a pair of face abutting abrasive blocks, and means forholding the blocks together so that a knife may be drawn therebetween.

Another object of this invention is to provide a knife sharpener which may be made in great part out of plastic and produced at small cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a knife sharpener which will provide a keen edge to a knife blade by drawing the blade between a pair of abrasive elements which are resiliently urged toward each other.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing-- Figure 1 is a plan view of a knife sharpener constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals and 11 designate generally a pair of vertical and parallel side members which have secured therebetween a bottom Wall 12. The bottom wall 12 has extending from the opposite ends thereof a pair of upwardly curved end walls 13, and the latter are fixed between the side members or walls 10 and 11.

A pair of top walls 14 are formed integral with the end walls 13, being longitudinally curved, as shown in Figure 2. A pair of inner walls 15 extend downwardly from the top wall 14 and the inner walls 15 are free with respect to the side walls 11 so that the inner walls 15 may have relative movement with respect to the side walls 10 and 11 and the bottom wall 12.

The side walls 10 and 11 are each formed with a downwardly extending slot 16, and the upper end of each slot 16 is outwardly flared, as indicated at 17. A pair of abrasive blocks or bodies 18 and 19 are disposed in face abutting relation between the inner walls 15, and the latter resiliently hold the inner faces of the blocks 18 and 19 in contacting relation.

2,743,561 Patented May 1, 1956 The blocks 18 and 19 at their upper end portions are formed with a flared surface 20, providing an entrance for a knife blade between the upper portions of the blocks 18 and 19. This flared portion 20 of the blocks 18 and 19 is flared on an angle such as to provide a bevel for the cutting edge of a knife.

The side walls 10 and 11 have fixed thereto angle members 21 and 22 respectively, which are formed with aper tures 23 and 24 respectively so that the device may be secured to a suitable support. a

In the use of this sharpener, the knife blade is extended downwardly in the slots 16 of the side walls 10 and 11 and is at least lightly pressed against the flared portions 20 of the blocks 18 and 19. The knife'is then drawn horizontally across the blocks 18 and 19 whereupon the abrasive characteristic of the blocks 18 and 19 will effect a sharpening of the blade of the knife.

The holder which embodies the walls 10 and 11 and the walls 12, 13, 14, and 15 is adapted to be made out of plastic or other suitable material. a

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A knife sharpener comprising a substantially rectangular frame having a pair of oppositely disposed spaced and substantially parallel rectangular side walls, each of said side walls having a slot formed therein extending inwardly from an edge of each of said side walls, said slots being. aligned with each other, said frame including a substantially rectangular base disposed between and fixedly secured to the adjacent sides of said side Walls the proximate edges thereof oppositely disposed with respect to said first edges, said base having its respective ends bent laterally to form a pair of spaced end walls having the edges thereof fixedly secured to said-adjacent sides of said sidewalls, each of said end walls terminating in an inwardly reverted free end, said free ends being positioned in spaced confronting relationship, said base, said end walls and said reverted ends thereof being formed of a resilient material, a pair of substantially rectangular abrasive blocks mounted on said base in side-by-side abutting relation with the plane of abutment registering with said aligned slots, said blocks having their respective ends engaging against marginal areas of said side walls adjacent said slots, and said free ends of said side walls engaging against the remotely positioned sides of said blocks to constantly bias said blocks for relative movement toward each other.

FOREIGN PATENTS Sweden June 6, 1945 

